Special police fee meeting topic

Dignitary visits chalk up lots of overtime for cops.

Dignitary visits chalk up lots of overtime for cops.

April 22, 2009|By JAMIE LOO Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- St. Joseph County political leaders say charging for special police services for visiting dignitaries is fair, particularly for fundraisers. The South Bend Common Council is considering an ordinance that would charge groups that invite, sponsor or host an event with a non-municipal dignitary who requires special police services. It doesn't include dignitaries who are sponsored or invited by the city. The fees cover any planning meetings and preparation, as well as police protection. The council's Health and Public Safety and Personnel and Finance committees are meeting Thursday to discuss the proposal. Chris Riley, St. Joseph County Republican Party chairman, said when President George W. Bush came to Bethel College to campaign for former U.S. Rep. Chris Chocola in 2006, Chocola's campaign reimbursed the Police Department for its services. Riley said special police services are a "tremendous expense for local law enforcement and the community" and that any dignitary who comes to the county to campaign or hold a private fundraising event should foot the bill. "If a Democrat or Republican -- whether it's Dick Cheney, George W. Bush, or Barack Obama -- comes into our county for a fundraiser, then I feel that they should contribute to any extra cost," said Owen "Butch" Morgan, St. Joseph County Democratic Party chairman. If a dignitary comes to the community for a policy statement or general policy discussion that's targeted at the public, Morgan and Riley both said the city shouldn't charge for services. Morgan said it could stifle the dignitary's willingness to come to the community. "They need to be able to do their jobs and that includes communicating with their constituents," Riley said. Capt. Phil Trent, South Bend Police Department spokesman, said it is important that the proposed ordinance draw a clear distinction between private and public events. He said if a politician comes to the city for a fundraiser, it's difficult to say taxpayers should pay when many residents won't be able to afford a potentially expensive ticket or meal, or can't attend the private, closed event. Trent said political figures are in their own special category when it comes to police protection. Most of the time there is no revenue involved in their visits, he said. Trent said the proposal specifies that payment come from a sponsoring party who invites a dignitary. Regardless of who is visiting, he said, the dignitary is still a resident of the United States. "It sounds like a no-brainer, but we still have to be aware of their First Amendment rights," Trent said. In the United States, everyone has a right to free speech in a public place, Trent said, and the government can't impede that by charging them an enormous bill. Members of the Mishawaka Common Council informally addressed the issue of special police services for dignitaries last year after Hillary Clinton, a U.S. senator and Democratic presidential candidate at the time, visited Mishawaka High School. Mayor Jeff Rea wrote a letter to the council pointing out that Clinton's visit cost about $1,865 in overtime for city workers, and that Chocola reimbursed the city in 2006. Rea said he wasn't asking Clinton to reimburse the city, but that "we would gladly accept the reimbursement should the Clinton campaign or the Democratic Party think it is appropriate." Council members John Roggeman, D-at large, and Gregg Hixenbaugh, D-at large, said paid tickets were required for the Bush visit, and that Clinton's visit was free to the public. Both said at the time that they believed the city should provide police services when national-level political figures visit. Staff writer Sue Lowe contributed to this report.